Find Out Which Vaccines are Safe during Pregnancy

Safe vs. Unsafe Vaccinations

Not all vaccinations are safe during pregnancy. Broadly speaking, vaccinations can be categorised as those containing live viruses, dead viruses and toxoids. Toxoids are harmless proteins that have been chemically altered and drawn from bacteria.

When you’re pregnant, you should avoid vaccines containing live viruses. For example, the MMR virus for measles, mumps and rubella contains live viruses and should not be taken at this time.

Vaccines with dead viruses and toxoid vaccines are safe during pregnancy.

Which Pregnancy Vaccinations Should be Taken Before Planning a Child?

Certain vaccines cannot be administered during pregnancy. Hence, it is advisable to get a blood test before conceiving to assess immunity so that depending on the results, one can get following vaccines before becoming pregnant.

• Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccine (MMR)

This vaccine protects you against three very contagious illnesses and it is important because ifinfected by any of these diseases while pregnant, then it can increase the risk of miscarriage and premature labour. The rubella virus can also lead to serious birth defects such as intellectual disabilities and hearing loss.

• Chicken pox vaccine

Women who get infected with chicken pox while pregnant can either pass on the disease to their child or are at an increased risk for birth defects. Hence, if you have not had chicken pox earlier, you should get vaccinated against it.

Note: These vaccines cannot be taken after conception.

Which Pregnancy Vaccinations Should You Take while Pregnant?

After conception, only those vaccines containing dead viruses or toxoids are safe for administration. Once you conceive, speak to your doctor about getting the following vaccinations:

• Influenza vaccine

This vaccineprotects expecting mothers against a seasonal flu and it is important because if a pregnant woman suffers with a bad flu in 2nd half of their pregnancy, they can face severe complications. Avoid the nasal spray vaccine as that contains live viruses and instead, get the injectable influenza vaccine.

• Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis vaccine

It is also known as the Tdap vaccine and it is required especially if it has been over 10 years since your last vaccine shot.This vaccine can be administered any time during the pregnancy,but the most preferred time is in the third trimester.

• Hepatitis B Vaccine

Hepatitis B is a viral disease that affects the mother’s liver and can be passed on to the baby at the time of delivery, hence, prevention and timely treatment is essential. The hepatitis B vaccine protects you and your baby from this disease and it is especially important since the disease has hard-to-spot symptoms.

• Hepatitis A Vaccine

Some doctors may recommend this vaccine to protect you and your baby from viral infections spreading through contaminated water or food. These diseases do not generally affect the baby, but they can make the pregnancy harder and may also increase the risk of premature labour.

• Pneumococcal Vaccine

In case you have pre-existing conditions such as kidney disease or diabetes,you may be advised to get the pneumococcal vaccine as this offers protection against all forms of pneumonia.

• COVID 19 vaccine

If you haven’t received COVID 19 vaccination already, speak to your doctor immediately as it is important to time this vaccine correctly.Before getting any other vaccination, maintain a gap of at least 14 days before and after the COVID vaccination shot